Welcome! RadarA Sky Sports column in which Nick Wright uses a mix of data and opinion to shed light on the Premier League’s top-to-bottom stories this week.
🔴 Right defender, left defender, goal scorer?
🔥 Van Nistelrooy opens Vardy?
📊 Man U’s touches in the box
🔍 Player to watch this weekend
Lumber makes up for lost time
Jurien Timberwolves celebrates his first goal for Arsenal in a 2-0 win over Manchester United. It’s been a long time coming for a player who spent his debut year at the club nursing an ACL injury. Not that you’d know it now look at him
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Jurien Timber scored the opening goal for Arsenal against Manchester United
Arsenal sources have been hugely impressed with his commitment during the rebuild and the hard work is paying off. The £38m signing from Ajax has been excellent since his summer investment. And that’s even without him in his natural position to play
Ajax centre-back Timber has spent the campaign switching between left-back and right-back at Arsenal, required to adapt and then adapt again amid injuries and suspensions, working hard without fuss and impressing in all aspects of the game.
The speed with which he has established himself is due to his mentality as well as his adaptability. “He likes to be a show and a big presence in everything we do,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said in July leader even at 23 years old.
Jurien Timber has played mostly at left and right back this season
He offers an unusual mix of qualities, being both a snarling competitor who loves a physical battle and an outstanding technician, all clever touches and body flaws, able to silkily evade markers under pressure and advance with the ball.
There were plenty of examples of those ball-playing qualities in his latest display at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, when the Timbers also took on the role of Arsenal’s chief tormentor in the absence of the injured Gabriel Magalhaes.
Overall, it was striking how different his role was to the one he took on in last weekend’s win against West Ham, even if he was ostensibly playing in the same right-back position.
The Timbers attacked West Ham from the right but came on against Manchester United
In the 5-2 win at the London Stadium, he was asked to push forward from the outside, with most of his touches coming near the right-hand touchline, from which he attacked West Ham.
The timber piles into the box in the first half against West Ham
Another example was when the Timbers attacked the West Ham goal from the right
Against Manchester United, there was a greater emphasis on occupying central areas, dropping between Thomas Partey and Martin Odegor and even swapping positions with William Saliba at times to add unpredictability to Arsenal’s formation.
Wood could be seen wedged in between midfielders Thomas Parte and Martin Odegaard
At other times, Timber switched positions with William Saliba
His ability to react and adapt in many different ways, from game to game but also during games, reflects his tactical acumen.The Timbers even switched to left back after Oleksandr Zinchenko was replaced by Mikel Merino in Wednesday’s win.
The final third also showed signs of increasing influence.
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Paul Merson says Arsenal can win the title if they keep their players fit
In the recent 5-1 win over Sporting in the Champions League, the Timbers created Gabriel Martinelli’s opener from one of three chances created, the highest by any Arsenal player.
Flash back to the 4-2 win against Leicester in September and his performance was even more impressive, with Martinelli scoring one of seven chances created from open play, the second by a defender in all Premier League games this season.
Sunday, December 8 at 1:00 p.m
Start at 14:00
Like the injured Ben White before him, the Timbers deserve credit for providing a platform for Bukayo Saka, who has reached even higher levels thanks in part to his support. Injury-free and determined to make up for lost time, the Timbers have plenty more to give.
Van Nistelrooy plays to Vardy’s strengths
Ruud van Nistelrooy knows the ins and outs of the centre-forward game better than most, and early evidence suggests that Jamie Vardy will enjoy working with a familiar spirit at Leicester.
The 37-year-old scored within two minutes of his first game against West Ham on Tuesday as the new manager’s tactical adjustments look to get the most out of him.
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Jamie Vardy scored the opening goal in Leicester’s 3-1 win over West Ham.
Van Nistelrooy played in a number 10 pairing against the Hammers, while youngsters Facundo Buonanote and Bilal El Khannoos started together for only the second time this season. El Khannoos scored their second goal, but it was his assist for Vardy’s opener that set the tone.
It was exactly the type of service that Vardy thrives on and, while Leicester spent most of the game defending, there were plenty of other examples of them trying to push him back.
In fact, the Foxes’ five clearances were their highest in any Premier League game all season, with Vardy looking to take advantage by making 12 runs off the ball to challenge the opposition back line, the most in any of his previous six appearances.
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Ruud van Nistelrooy reveals Enzo Maresca’s advice on Leicester move
The emphasis was on breaking quickly and directly, with Leicester scoring three shots from the fast break in the game, having scored just five in their previous 13 games this season.
Van Nistelrooy will have to adapt a bit against Brighton on Sunday, with Buonanotte unable to face his parent club on loan, but Vardy can expect more chances.
Brighton have conceded the most counter-attacking goals in the Premier League this season, with four, and who better than Vardy and Van Nistelrooy to exploit the vulnerability?
Amorim’s offensive puzzle
Manchester United scored four goals against Everton in manager Ruben Amorim’s first home game in charge of the Premier League, but the new manager admitted the scoreline flattered them and Wednesday’s defeat at Arsenal opened the door to progress.
They had an equal share of the ball at the Emirates Stadium but struggled to get close to Arsenal’s goal, having just six touches in the opposition half, their lowest in a league game since a goalless draw with Liverpool under Jose Mourinho in 2017, and they are the second lowest since Opta’s data was recorded.
There were positives in defense for Amorim in the second half, but he didn’t shy away from addressing their attacking shortcomings work continues at home to Nottingham Forest.
Saturday, December 7 at 5:00 p.m
Start: 17:30
Player Radar. Who else to keep an eye on?
Dean Huysen Marked just his fourth start of the season for Bournemouth in the header against Tottenham and will see more minutes after Roberto Senesi is injured. looks like
Live radar. what’s on sky this weekend
Amorim Manchester United Try to bounce back after the defeat against Arsenal Nottingham Forest on Saturday night footballstarting with the cover Sky Sports Premier League at 17:00 ahead of the 17:30 kick-off.
Super Sunday! sees Fulham and: Arsenal: go head-to-head in the early game, kicking off at 2:00 p.m., back Tottenham and: Chelsea Another London derby at 4.30pm Coverage of that double header begins Sky Sports Premier League at 13:00
On Monday night footballIt’s about time with Julen Lopetegui and Gary O’Neill West Ham the face Wolveswith both managers at risk of relegation, Jamie Carragher and David Jones will be live Sky Sports Premier League before the 19:00 to 20:00 kick-off.
Read last week’s Radar column
Last week’s column included a look at the comeback Ruben Diaz For Manchester City. Malo Gusto An impressive adjustment to a new role in the absence of Rhys James at Chelsea was also covered, as well as: Deyan Kulusevski the way of thinking.
